Trolley conductor support



Oct. 10, 1950 R. P. HANNA TROLLEY CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Filed Jan. 12, 1946 INVENTOR gamma yawn. ATTOR Y Y WITNES s:

Patented Oct. 10, 1950 TROLLEY CONDUCTOR SUPPORT Raymond P. Hanna, Wilkinsburg, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application January 12, 1946, Serial No. 640,782

13 Claims.

It is also an object of my invention to provide 7 for reducing the overall height of insulated conductor supports without impairing the insulating value thereof.

Another object of my invention is to provide an adjustable woodstick insulator conductor support.

Yet, another object of my invention is to provide for using an elongated insulator for supporting a curved conductor segment and maintaining a predetermined curved relation therein. It is also an important object of my invention to provide for using a woodstick insulator as a chordal strain member to support a curved conductor support and maintain a predetermined curved relation.

Still another object of my invention is to provide for using an adjustable clamp for securing a span wire beneath a woodstick insulator strain member for positioning a, trolley conductor support.

Other objects will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, be explained hereinafter.

In practicing my invention in one of its forms, a trolley conductor is secured at spaced intervals along the lower edge of an elongated curved bar. The bar is provided With a chordal strain member comprising a woodstick insulator which is adjustably connected between the ends of the bar on the concave side to maintain the bar in different predetermined relations of curvature. The bar is positioned by passing a span wire beneath the woodstick and securing it thereto intermediate the ends of the woodstick by an adjustable clamp.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and scope of my invention, reference may be made to the following detailed description which may be studied in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which: 7

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a trolley conductor support embodying the invention in one of its forms;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged end elevational view in section of a conductor support embodying the invention in another of its forms;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a curved conductor support embodying the invention in another of its forms;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the conductor support shown in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a partially sectioned enlarged end elevational View of the span wire clamp shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4, illustrating the method of securing the span wire.

Referring to Fig. 1, the reference numeral [0 may denote generally an insulated support for atrolley conductor ll.

The support H3 may comprise a pair'of ears l2 and 13 which may be secured to the conductor l I in spaced relation by means of clamp members I5 which may be secured adjacent the ends of the body portions M in conjunction with depending end portions ll; of the'ears, for engaging the conductor II in clamping relation therebetween. In order to provide a unitary insulated support, a woodstick insulator l8 may be utilized to connect the ears l2 and [3. The cars may be secured to clevis ends 20 at the ends of the woodstick l8 by means of bolts 19 threaded into bosses 2| on the body members I 4 of the ears.

Support means 22 may be provided intermediate the ends of the woodstick insulator l3 for securing the support II] to a transverse span wire (not shown). The support means may comprise upper and lower support clamp members 23 and .24 which may be secured to the woodstick by means of bolts 25. Wire clamp members 21 and 28 may be mounted on the upper clampmember 23 by means of a ball and socket arrangement which is well known in the art, and provided with a bolt 29 for operating the wire clamp members to engage a span wire (not shown) Which may be positioned in an opening 39 between the clamp members.

Where it is desired to utilize a conductor support having only. a minimum height, support means 32 of the form shown in Fig. 2 maybe employed for securing a span wire 33 to the woodstick insulator l8. As shown in Figs. 2 and 5, the support means 32 may comprise upper and lower support clamp members 35 and 36 which may be maintained in clamping relation by means of bolts 31. The lower support clamp member 36 may be, as shown in Fig. 5, provided with a chan-: nel or opening 38 for receiving the span wire 33 and positioning it on the lower side of the woodlower edge of a laterally curved and relatively flat elongated bar 42 by means of clamp members 43 and hollow head screws A4 for engagement with a current collector (not shown) In order to both support the curved bar 42 and provide a compact and efficient conductor support, a woodstick insulator 46 may be utilized as a chordal strain member for maintaining the curvature of the bar 42. The woodstick insulator 46 may be positioned on the concave side of the bar 42 and provided with clevis ends 4'! for attachment to the bar. The clevis ends 41 may either be integral and fixed with respect to the body of the woodstick, as shown in Fig. 1, or they may be adjustable relative thereto, being, for example, mounted on threaded studs 48 and 49 projecting from the ends of the woodstick. Either one of both of the clevis ends 47 may be fixed or adjustable. In the event that both clevis ends. are made adjustable, one of the studs may be. provided with a left-hand thread and the other one with a right-hand thread so as to facilitate adjustment which may be, made by merely rotating the woodstick insulator 46 in one direction or the other.

The woodstich insulator 46 may be secured to I the bar 42 in any suitable manner, being, for example, connected by means of bolts 58 andil to. cars 52 and 53, respectively, projecting on the concave side of the bar 42. The bar 42 may, for example, comprise the vertical web of an angle members, and the ears 52 and 53 may comprise portions of the horizontal web of which the central portion may have been removed to provide clearance for the. w odstick lfi, An additional opening 55 may be provided for positioning the bolt 51. to increase the range of adjustment of the curvature of the bar 42.

Support means 32, such. as shown in Figs. 2

and 5, may be mounted on the Woodstick incompanying drawing, it will be apparent that I have provided in a simple and effective manner for utilizing a woodstick insulator both as an insulating and as a strain member in a trolley conductor support. By utilizing an elongated woodstick insulator which is positioned substantially longitudinally of the trolley conductor where it is least likely to be subject to blows from a dewired trolley conductor, the insulating characteristics of the woodstick insulator may be utilized to the best advantage. The overall height of the support is reduced to a minimum and a simple and inexpensive conductor support is provided which is easy to install and is reliable in operation.

Since certain changes may be made in the above-described construction and different embodiments of the invention may be made without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all the matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be considered as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a conductor support, an elongated insulator positioned substantially longitudinally of and connected in supporting relation with the conductor, and clamp means secured to the insulator intermediate itsends having a portion defining with the insulator an opening for receiving a span wire and clamping it between the clamp means and the insulator on the lower side of the insulator.

2. A conductor device comprising, an elongated woodstick insulator support means connecting the insulator in conductor supporting relation,

and clamp means adjustably mounted on the woodstick intermediate its ends having a recess therein defining with the woodstick an opening adjacent the woodstick on the lower side thereof for receiving a span wire and clamp it against the woodstick to support the device.

3. A conductor device comprising, an elongated insulator arranged to be positioned in substan tially longitudinal relation with the conductor, and support means on the insulator comprising a split clamp having a lower portion positioned below the insulator and provided with a channel transversely of the insulator for securing a span wire beneath the insulator and an upper portion positioned above the insulator. and arranged in clamping relation with the lower portion to I clamp the span wire and insulator therebetween. 4. In a conductor support, a laterally curved bar arranged to be secured to a conductor for guiding a current collector in a curved path, an elongated chordal insulator extending between points adjacent the ends of the bar to maintain the bar in predetermined curved relation, and support means mounted on the insulator.

5. A conductor 'devicecomprising, an elongated curved bar, means securing a conductor adjacent one edge of the bar, a rigid elongated insulator connected chordally between spaced points adjacent theends of the bar and on the concave side of the bar, and means on the insulator to support the device.

6; A conductor support comprising, a laterally curved elongated body member, means connecting a conductor to the body member at spaced intervals, a choral strain member connected between spaced points adjacent the ends of the body member, and support means mounted on the choral strain member disposed to secure a span wire on the lower side thereof.

7. A curve segment com-prising, a curved bar, clamp meansoperable to secure a conductor adjacent one edge of the bar, a chordal strain member connecting spaced points adjacent ends of the banand'means on the strain member for attachment to a'span wire.

8. A curve segment comprising, a relatively flat bar curved in a fi'a-twise direction, means operable to secure a conductor adjacent one edge of the bar at spaced intervals, an elongated insulator connected between spaced points on the concave side of'the bar, and clamp means on the insulator for securing against the lower side of the insulator'a span wire.

9. A curve segment comprising, an elongated relatively flat bar curved in a fiatwise direction, clamp means operable to secure a trolley conductor along one edge of the bar, an elongated rigid insulator connected intermediate spaced points adjacent ends of the barto maintain the bar in different predetermined curved relations,

and clamp means operable to clamp the elongated insulator to a span wire.

10. A curve segment comprising, an elongated curved member having means for securing a trolley conductor thereto, an adjustable chordal insulating strain member connected between spaced [points on the curved member to maintain different predetermined curved relations, and a split clamp having a channel for securing a span wire between one portion of the clamp and the lower side of the insulating strain member.

11. A curve segment comprising, a laterally curved bar member having means along the lower edge to secure a trolley conductor and lateral projections adjacent the ends on the concave side, a woodstick extending between the projections, and clamp means on the woodstick for gripping a span wire against the woodstick.

12. In a curve segment, a laterally curved angle member having means to secure a trolley conductor along the lower edge of the vertical leg and having the upper leg removed except for limited flanges adjacent the ends, an adjustable length woodstick insulator connected between points on the flanges at opposite ends, and split clamp means mounted on opposite sides of the Woodstick to secure a span wire between one of said means and the woodstick.

13. A curve segment comprising, an angle member having a laterally curved vertical leg with the horizontal leg removed intermediate the ends, a rigid chordal insulating member connecting the remaining portions of the horizontal web, and clamp means mounted on opposite sides of the insulating member to secure a span wire therebetween on the lower side thereof.

RAYMOND P. HANNA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,114,130 Gary Oct. 20, 1914 1,463,420 Hale July 31, 1923 2,239,656 Sparhawk Apr. 22, 1941 2,287,752 Matthes June 23, 1942 2,288,723 Leggett July 7, 1942 2,295,400 Hanna Sept. 8, 1942 2,304,763 Matthes Dec. 8, 1942 2,316,464 .Smoot et a1. Apr. 13, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 378,565 France of 1907 838,549 France Mar. 8, 1939 

